Monthly Archives: February 2016

Inspiration & Design Photography wins Editor’s Choice Award 2016!

I was beyond surprised to open my inbox today & find out that I won the 2016 Editor’s Choice Award! The email said CONGRATULATIONS, pop the champagne! Since it’s still morning I will refrain from that, however, I may do a happy dance in my office 🙂

This is more than just winning an award, it’s about not giving up. It’s about trying new things. It’s about finding your way when you are feeling lost. For those of you who read my blog posts, you know that 2015 was the first year of submitting my work for publication. I had no idea what my efforts would bring, but I figured it didn’t hurt to try. And what a wonderful end to my first year of effort!

I was feeling like a guppy in a new area of the ocean filled with talented Beluga whales!! But in that large sea of talent, I knew that I needed to try to make a name for myself as a somewhat newbie to the Charlotte Market area. Since my business had ALWAYS grown via REFERRALS, it felt foreign to be in an area so saturated with talent and competing with many photographers who had been in the area for a long time gathering a ripple of referrals and vendor connections.

Entering my work has helped my google rankings, encouraged my little guppy heart and hopefully will help me swim with the Beluga whales once again!

The Editors’ Choice Awards honor Two Bright Lights members whose talent was continually recognized by top print magazines, blogs and websites. Your hard work and commitment to getting published places you among the top 5% featured, from a community made up of over 40,000 photographers and event professionals. Using Two Bright Lights, you and your colleagues were featured in media outlets that included POPSUGAR, The Knot, Green Wedding Shoes, Borrowed & Blue, Munaluchi Bride Magazine, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons and Southern Weddings Magazine.

I was really excited when I decided to run a Wedding Do-over Contest. I was thrilled about the idea of helping bridal couples that had ruined wedding photographs by offering my services free of charge to do a styled shoot for them.

I have heard so many horror stories over the years and continue to hear sad stories of couples who were heart broken over their awful wedding photos. Photos so bad they didn’t post even one on Facebook. Photos that they paid for and a year later still don’t have. Photos that were taken but the photographer went out of business. Memories that were captured, but the card they were captured on, was lost or damaged. I’ve heard just about every scenario imaginable. I bet most of you reading this post knows of someone who has a wedding photo story, that doesn’t end well.

The editor of Every Last Detail even shared her story in hopes of helping future brides not make the same mistake. You can read her story HERE

I thought I would receive numerous stories, but I did not. I even paid to promote this free offer, so more couples would hear and have the opportunity at a chance to redo their wedding photos. But with no valid entries, there can be no winners.

I know time can slip away and opportunities can be missed. But I don’t want that to be the end of the story. Therefore, I want to offer one more opportunity to you or someone you know, who could really use a do-over! Get the word out to the person(s) you know who need to hear about this contest.

See the original entry requirements HERE . Get your entries to me by midnight on February 29th email to info@inspirationanddesign.com Any winners will be announced March 5th.

Inspiration & Design Photography was chosen as one of the best photographers in the area!

I was thrilled when I received an email October 2015, from Forrest Kolb at Expertise, stating that out of hundreds of photographers, I had been selected as one of the best wedding photographers in Charlotte!

“My name is Forrest Kolb and I’m the Director of Community at Expertise.com. I’ve been excited to finally connect with you to share the great news that we have chosen Inspiration & Design Photography as one of our Top Picks for wedding photographers in Charlotte!

We’ve spent the past few months going through literally hundreds of wedding photographers in and around Charlotte and your business made our list of best wedding photographers in the area.”

Thank you Forrest, I feel VERY HONORED to be chosen for this award, because Charlotte NC, has some of the BEST photographers I’ve seen. We have so much talent in our area, which makes me even more HUMBLED to be one of a select few.

Thank you to EXPERTISE for their effort and research and thank you for this Award!

Vintage Valentine styled shoot at Ritchie Hill in Concord, NC.

I have always loved Valentine’s Day. It takes me back to being in grade school. I remember creating mail packets that we would attach to the back of our chairs. Even as a child I LOVED to create. So creating a pretty “mail box” to receive my assortment of Valentines, was delightful. However, the anticipation of the candy & desserts to come, were beyond thrilling in my 3rd grade world!

Being a nostalgic-romantic at heart, one of my treasured hobbies was to spend special time with my best friend, browsing the numerous antique stores in our California shopping area. I began collecting china, linens, handkerchiefs and other items, mostly from the 50’s era. As well as anything shabby chic. Thanks to Rachel Ashwell, one of America’s top designers who created the rich, inviting, practical time worn style.

I love watching period movies and have a special fondness for the 50’s. On January 9th, I came up with an exciting idea. Why not combine my love of Valentines Day, my cherished antiques and my fascination with the 50’s into a themed vintage Valentine Styled Wedding inspiration shoot!